Prince of Wales and British Cycling encourage cycle commuting

British Cycling has joined forces with The Prince of Wales to promote cycling as a sustainable means of transport.

By becoming the sustainable transport supporter of START, a national initiative set up by The Prince’s Charities Foundation to promote and celebrate sustainable living, British Cycling is highlighting the benefits of cycling and encouraging more people to ride to work.

The START progamme will kick off on 6 September when The Prince of Wales will go on a five day tour of Britain, highlighting different ways in which communities and individuals can live more sustainably. The Royal Tour will set off from Glasgow and pass through Britain’s main cities before arriving in London on September 10.

In Glasgow His Royal Highness will see the ‘Start Cycling Challenge’ get underway during which a group of riders, including Dean Downing and Matt Cronshaw from the Rapha Condor team will follow the bio-fuelled Royal Train all the way to Edinburgh.

To coincide with The Prince’s visit to Manchester on September 8, British Cycling will be treating the city’s bicycle commuters to a free healthy breakfast served in Albert Square from 8:30am. Manchester is home of British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling Team.

Free breakfast for cyclists will also be served in Birmingham’s Millennium Point from 8:30am on September 9 when the Royal Tour visits the city. Just two days after the royal visit, Birmingham will close its roads to traffic for Sky Ride, a fun mass participation cycling event organised by British Cycling and Sky.

On the final day of the Royal Tour on September 10, BMX World Champion Shanaze Reade will join The Prince and delegates at the IBM Summit at Start at Clarence House to show her support for the role of cycling in a more sustainable lifestyle.

Stewart Kellett, Recreation and Partnerships Director, said: “Cycling is enjoying a boom and with London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have a unique opportunity to turn Britain into a true cycling nation.

“Cycling is a fantastic sport, a fun way to keep fit and we also believe it can be a driver in making the workplace a healthier and happier place. By supporting the START initiative, we are putting cycling on the sustainable map of Britain.”